Tom Canning

Tom has a broad practice which covers all aspects of corporate and commercial dispute resolution. He is recognised as having particular expertise in international arbitration.

His clients have included federal and state governments, state-owned entities, airlines, property investment companies, satellite operators, IT and telecommunications companies, oil and gas corporations, insurers and reinsurers, accountancy firms, banks (both clearing and investment) and other financial institutions.

His expertise includes:

• Arbitration (counsel and advocate) conducted under all of the major sets of rules including UNCITRAL, ICSID, DIAC, DIFC/LCIA, SIAC, SCC, ICC and LCIA, as well as ad hoc arbitration
• Litigation in the High Court (including the Commercial Court and the Technology and Construction Court), Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of England & Wales
• Applications for injunctive relief (including freezing injunctions, restraining injunctions, anti-suit injunctions and search orders) and interim remedies in aid of overseas proceedings

Tom has a specialist knowledge of dispute resolution in the Middle East, a region in which he lived and practiced for 3 years.

• Acting for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the successful challenge before the English Court to the recognition and enforcement of a multi-billion dollar ICSID Award. 
• Acting for the Direct Line Group in multi-million pound proceedings before the Technology and Construction Court in London in relation to its claims against IBM arising under an IT transformation contract.
• Acting for one of Turkey’s largest state-owned banks in multiple sets of proceedings in relation to a shareholder dispute concerning the ownership of Turkey’s national mobile phone operator where the sums in dispute total US$2.8 billion. Acting in court proceedings in the BVI, in the appeal courts up to and including appeals before the Privy Council in London, and two sets of related confidential LCIA Arbitration proceedings in London.
• Appearing as lead advocate for a power purchasing state owned entity in ICC Arbitration proceedings seated in Singapore in relation to claims arising under a long-term power purchasing agreement.
• Representing a group of 20 lenders in their successful circa €200 million claim to reverse certain transactions taken during the financial crisis of the Steinhoff Group (a retail business operating across Europe and South Africa, the demise of which has attracted significant press coverage).
• Acting for a state government, and a Federal Government, in two US$300 million arbitration proceedings under the UNCITRAL rules relating to a major power generation project (LNG plant).
• Acting for a Federal Government in relation to arbitration proceedings brought under a bilateral investment treaty (for circa US$5 billion). 
• Acting for an oil pipeline consortium, one of the largest in the world, in multi-million-dollar UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings in relation to the operation of a quality bank arrangement.
• Acting for an African government in circa US$160 million ICC arbitration proceedings in relation to investment rights under a Concession Agreement.
• Acting for the owner of a polysilicon plant in the Middle East in circa $200 million ICC Arbitration proceedings with an Indian Contractor pursuant to the terms of an EPC Contract.
• Acting for the state oil company of an Eastern European country in arbitration proceedings against a ‘Supermajor’ concerning business improvement systems for the former’s upstream, downstream and retail operations.
• Acting for a Scandinavian corporation in ICC arbitration proceedings and related litigation in the UAE, US and UK concerning the ownership of 3 oil rigs valued at in excess of US$300 million.
• Acting for one of the world’s leading steel manufacturers in ICC arbitration proceedings over the existence of a contract for the supply of steel scrap.

• Banking and financial services
• Commercial/civil
• Government and regulatory
• Insolvency
• International arbitration

• Aviation
• Banking
• Construction and materials
• Energy
• Tech and telecoms

• England and Wales

• London Court of International Arbitration

• Nottingham Law School, L.P.C.
• University of Sheffield, LL.B. (Hons)